Burdekin Roosters rugby league players receive their jerseys ahead of the 2023 Townsville and District Rugby League season
MONDAY, MARCH 14
Are soccer and rugby union losing relevance in Australia? This is a question raised by RadioTAB’s Gerard Daffy. The two major codes – Australian rules and rugby league – are certainly going from strength to strength, in most areas, particularly the AFL. But union and soccer are such strong codes internationally, they will always have a strong place in the Australian sporting landscape. In Paris, noted league journalist, Steve Mascord launches his book, ‘Two Tribes’, about the Super League ‘War’ of 1995-’97. The venue for the launch is La Petite Bascule. There was a Parisian Super League club – Paris St Germaine.
Two ambulance officers – one male, one female – push a stretcher up the path dividing out town house estate, and return with an elderly chap. The ambulance vehicle must be parked down by Kedron Brook. Bit of a mystery as to where, or how, the patient got into difficulty.
Actor, William Hurt, has died, aged 71. When I hear his name, I think of the movie ‘The Big Chill’.
TUESDAY, MARCH 15
Former Great Britain Rugby League Centre, David Stephenson has died, aged 63. He scored all Wigan’s points in their 8-2 win over Manly-Warringah in the inaugural World Club Challenge match in 1987 – at Central Park, Wigan. Stephenson landed four goals from five shots. Man of the Match was current England coach, Shaun Wane. Stephenson also played for Salford and Leeds. I saw him play for Britain in their narrow loss to Australia in the Third Test of the 1986 Kangaroo tour – at Central Park – and again in the Third Test of the 1988 Ashes series in Sydney, a match Britain won. I covered the ’86 tour for the now defunct Brisbane ‘Telegraph’ and the ’88 Test for ‘The Courier-Mail’. Josh Stowers will coach Burdekin Roosters in the Townsville and District competition. I’m told Josh is a cousin of Wakefield Trinity coach, Willie Poching.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
Wake to the news one of England’s finest sports journalists, and a good friend of mine – Dave Hadfield, has died, aged 70, after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease. SkySports commentators describe Dave as “A great wordsmith, a great journalist, whose love of rugby league was second only to his love of real ale”. Bill Arthur recalls Dave being a keen cross-country walker, who loved his time in Scotland’s Border Country, enjoying a beer with the locals and listening to folk music. I recall one story about Dave, on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island, when, at the end of one such cross country walk, he entered a private residence, under the impression it was a licensed establishment. I’m not sure whether he got his beer. Dave was also a loving Dad and Grandad. Some of the players who were active when Dave was reporting, reckon he could bag you nicely. (See Vale Dave Hadfield, this website). Also learn of the passing of former Kiwi prop, Oscar Danielson, who played for Newtown in Sydney. I saw Danielson play for the Kiwis against Australia at Lang Park in 1967.
I have a nice chat with former Queensland State of Origin forward, Chris Beattie, who raves about his time playing for Lezignan, in the French Elite competition. But he was shocked by the ‘lunch culture’, where players would eat meals, such as steak and rabbit, on match day, washed down by a glass or two of red.
Queensland State of Origin legend, Billy Moore says his former North Sydney teammate, Mario Fenech was the ultimate alpha male. “I’ve never met a more professional footballer,” Billy says. Former Australian halfback, Steve Mortimer, who is battling dementia, is hosted to a lunch by mates, including Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, Paul Sironen, Ben Elias and Barry Ross
My wife, Marie and I bush walk at Apex Park, Wellington Point; have a quick look at historic Ormiston House (which has a Carmelite Convent next door), before lunch at Wellington Point Farmhouse. I hop into a lamb leg, while Marie has a farm burger.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17
Watch media conference at which Western Bulldogs’ coach, Luke Beveridge verbally berates a journalist, over a story he broke about a selection issue. Wow! A team selection matter is not that important. There must be something more to this bloke going ballistic.
There is a story in ‘The Courier-Mail’ about the Electrical Trade Union’s influence over the Labor Party. Some things never change. The ETU were extremely powerful in Labor’s ‘Halls of Power’, when I covered the Industrial round for the now defunct Brisbane ‘Telegraph’, in the late ’70s early 80s.
FRIDAY, MARCH 18
Sofia (Bulgaria) born Rugby League player, Ethan Havard, scores a good try for Wigan against Castleford. Havard is a product of Wigan amateur club, St Patricks. The Dave Clarke Five song, ‘Glad All Over’ is played at the end of the game.
The Norm Provan Stand is officially opened at Kogarah Oval, home of St George Illawarra Dragons. Norm, who died in 2021, played in 10 of the Dragons’ 11 straight premiership wins in the 1950s and 60s. Controversial St George Illawarra forward, Francis Molo makes a big hit on Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris. Was it a shoulder charge?
The iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel re-opens, following the floods. Staff worked around the clock to get it ship shape again.
SATURDAY, MARCH 19
It is 40 years since the first ever (Winfield) State League match, at North Ipswich Reserve – between the local rep. side, the Jets, and Brisbane Brothers. I covered the game for the Brisbane ‘Telegraph’, with my former Murwillumbah Brothers’ teammate, Mick Nunan, as my off-sider, helping me with stats and information from the dressing sheds.
My wife, Marie is given a bottle of bubbly, as thanks for all the work she has done in the community garden, at Hermitage Gardens, the town house estate which has been our home since 2008.
The Courier-Mail’s weekend magazine has a lovely profile on Papua New Guinea rugby league international, David Mead, who played for Marist Brothers in Lismore, before making it in the NRL.
SUNDAY, MARCH 20
A fire fighter, who lives at Lennox Head, but works in Lismore, tells the ABC’s ‘Macca’ (Ian McNamara), about the spirit of Lismore people, in the face of adversity, after the floods. He praises the ‘Koori-Mail’ for their pop-up, food relief centre. The ‘firies’ are now based at Goonellabah, on the heights to the east of the ‘old’ Lismore.
Marie and I walk the Brisbane River, at Hill End, which is not looking its best, after the floods. We watch the first half of the Queensland Cup clash between Souths and Central Queensland at Davies Park – from the old can bar in the first half; from the clubhouse in the second. Mark Power, son of the founder of Power Brewing, Bernie Power, is venue manager of the leagues club. Souths’ Life Member, Joan Baillie works on the gate. I have a chat to former Souths’ player, Bob Hudson, who recently caught up with rugby league journeyman, Robert ‘Rip’ Taylor, who coached the Magpies during his footy travels. Central Qld win, in something of a shock result. Souths’ best was Broncos’ contracted youngster, Ezra Mam. The McMahon Cup – named after former Test fullback, Allan McMahon – is up for grabs, in the Newcastle v Wests Tigers’ NRL match. (McMahon played for Balmain and coached Newcastle). 4BC commentator, David ‘Thirsty’ Morrow reflects on the 1978 Kangaroo Tour of Britain and France, and a match in Avignon, in the South of France, when the Mistral Wind was blowing. “If Allan (McMahon) was fair dinkum, he could have kicked the ball all the way to Italy,” says David.
Television Sports news features a Gold Coast Suns’ player missing all four posts. Really? I can understand someone from our game – which is described as ‘handball’, not football by a neighbour – making such a blunder. But when kicking is basically 90 percent of Aussie rules!! How do you not at least get a behind. He deserves a kick up the behind.
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